READINGTON TWP. — A local equestrian is countersuing a woman who accused him of animal cruelty.

Cesar Parra, who is hoping to earn a berth on the United States Equestrian Team for this summer's Olympics, was charged in municipal court in March. The case was referred to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office for further investigation.

Cesar Parra, who is happy to have been cleared of animal cruelty charges, stands with Sara and Michal Davis' horse, Van The Man, who he hopes to earn a spot with on the US Olympic team with in June at Gladstone.

On May 24 Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III announced that the criminal charges had been dismissed and two civil charges were referred back to Readington Township Municipal Court.

Parra, 49, was charged after a complaint was made regarding an incident that occurred almost three years prior. Parra was accused by the SPCA of “torture or torment to a living animal” after a horse he was training was injured in June 2009.

“I was profoundly saddened by the tragic accident, which solely resulted from circumstances unrelated to my conduct and beyond my control. While working on the lunge line, this horse reared, fell, and hit his head. Lunging a horse is a very common procedure and on that day in June three years ago, there was no action on my or my staff's part that could possibly be considered atypical or detrimental to the horse. Regardless of a trainer's best efforts to ensure an animal's safety, accidents of this type can and do occur,” Parra said after learning the charges had been dismissed.

Parra said he did not want to see the charges dismissed on a technicality, “I welcomed the investigators to come to my farm at any time, unannounced and see our day to day practices. I am very proud of our training and the care and consideration my team gives to each and every horse. I was deeply pained by these claims forth against me regarding the 'alleged torture and abuse' of a horse. I wanted a full investigation to clear my name and set the record straight,” Parra said.

The owner of the horse, Trudy Miranda, is also suing Parra in Superior Court. That trial is scheduled to start on July 12.

Miranda filed suit in June 2011 against Parra, claiming Parra was negligent in the way he handled the horse and how he cared for him after the injury. On March 16, Miranda’s motion to file an amended complaint was granted. The amended complaint adds that Parra acted with wanton disregard to the rights of others. She claims that the release she signed just before the incident is not enforceable due to Parra's negligence.

In April, Parra filed a counterclaim against Miranda and asked the judge to conduct a jury trial.

In the countersuit, Parra accuses Miranda of defamation, malicious prosecution and interference of contracts and more. According to the suit, Miranda used his client e-mail list to make false and defamatory statements. He is seeking economic damages because her actions allegedly caused him to lose clients. The suit says Miranda is trying to derail his efforts to make the Olympic team.

Meanwhile, Parra is waiting to see if he will be invited to compete in the selection trials to be held in Gladstone starting on June 8. Only 15 riders will be invited to compete. Invitations are sent out based on the national rankings of the horse and rider.

Parra competed on his potential Olympic mount, Van The Man, on May 25 in the last qualifier for the selection trials. Parra and Van The Man were ranked 18th going into the show but his score may have been enough to move him up. The new rankings have not yet been announced.

“I would love to represent the United States as a member of the Olympic team. I am hopeful that with Sara and Michal Davis’ horse, Van The Man, we can earn a spot on the U.S. team,” Parra said, adding, “ I am grateful for the continued trust and support so many of my fellow equestrians bestowed on me during the difficult times of the allegations. And I am proud of the entire Piaffe Performance team. We have proved that together we can weather any storm and stay focused on the horses we love and the camaraderie that makes our team feel like a family”. So with 100-pecent focus, Parra prepares himself and his riders for the task ahead of them at Gladstone in June.

Parra became one of Colombia’s top international dressage riders and was named the Colombian National Champion multiple times. He competed in the 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 World Equestrian Games for Colombia. In 2008 he became a United States citizen.

Last year Parra became the first Latin American rider to compete on a United States Dressage Team when he was on the gold medal-winning team that competed at the Pan American Games in Mexico.